Sport Karate ( Karatedo )

空 手 道 

The North West Karate Academy actively train all student in Sport Karate, a handful of students choose to compete in competitions.

Brief History

There is a lot of confusion when it comes to the martial arts, it not just the general public that can get confused as well, many students of many arts are unsure of the history and what there art represents.

Karatedo, also known as Sport Karate, Japanese Karate, Traditional Karate or Modern Karate is a Sport. They are meant for improving the character of a person by challenging an individual with personal goals such as grading for a belt, learning something new or entering a competition etc.

Karatedo is not an ancient Martial Art, it is a sport recognised in Japan in early 1900s, however its origins and roots go back much further. Prior to this time Martial Arts were banned in Japan, Karate men for Okinawa introduced the art into mainland Japan. The Japanese wanted it to be introduced into the school system to build the strength and character in their young men. At first it was not accepted, but once Karate adopted a uniform to wear and the belt/grading system from Judo, it was accepted and started to spread into the education system.

Karate Techniques were modified to create a safer environment for students, more enforces was placed on the performance of Kata to make it easier to teach to the masses. There were also many practices especially the grappling elements of throwing, locking and strangling taken out as the moves were to dangerous to teach to the younger students.

Karatedo translates as the ‘way of the empty hand’ but originally was called Karate Jutsu meaning ‘Chinese hand techniques’ the change in named reflected the introduction into Japan. The roots of Karate lie in countries such as china, Indian and the Kingdom of Siam.

About the sport

Karatedo is an exciting sport that could one day be in the Olympics, Today there are millions of practitioners of Karatedo from all over the world included Men, Woman and Children

They participate in it for any or all of the following reason;

• A recreational activity
• Competitions
• Self defence
• Fitness

If Karate was ever to become an official Olympic sport, the WKF is the recognised body for Karate by the International Olympic Committee ( IOC ) and their rules and methods will be the ones that will be competed with.

Check out our Competition section giving a simple explanation of the WKF tournament rules

Why are there so my Karate styles

The main styles / schools recognised by the World Karate Federation ( WKF ) are Shitoryu, Shotokan, Goju and Wado. To say one style is better than the other is ignorant, what separates the styles really is the look of the Kata, many styles have the same kata in them and the applications are exactly the same.

No one style is better than another; they are all a variation on a theme that is usually based around Kihon (basics), Kata (preset solo routine) and Kumite (sparring).